The story of Star Wars is more than movies. It’s a phenomenon that speaks to every creature, in every language, in every corner of the galaxy we call home. It’s celebrated each year with the now iconic Star Wars Day.
What was once just a simple space opera from George Lucas has grown far beyond his wildest imagination, becoming an epic quest that speaks to the human experience in a way that truly resonates—perhaps in no greater form than this: turning a playful pun into an international day of observance!
Ever since the phrase “May the 4th” first entered the lexicon of the world, it has become the catch-cry of fans who don their Jedi robes and switch on their lightsabers to celebrate this unique cinematic universe on this special date.
The origin of Star Wars Day: How “May the 4th” became a fan phenomenon
Long before Disney acquired Lucasfilm and adopted the day as an official holiday; Star Wars Day was a fan-grown holiday spreading throughout the cosmos by virtue of an irresistible pun. The phrase “May the 4th be with you” is, of course, in reference to the classic quote, “May the force be with you” (a platitude so embedded in the Star Wars tapestry that it only made sense that such wisdom would one day make its way to our world.
A Political Origin
The first ever use of the current was not, in fact, coined by a fan but by a political regime. On May 4th, 1979, the Conservative Party took out an ad in the London Evening News to congratulate the British prime minister on her recent election win with the headline: “May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations”. While this published pun was simply a sign of the times, it also planted a seed that would eventually burgeon into the fan holiday we know today.
From Phrase to Phenomenon
Throughout the 1980s and 90s, as the Star Wars fanbase grew, so did the use of this platitude. But, it wasn’t until the dawn of the internet age that May the 4th actually began its growth to holiday status. Online forums and early platforms like Facebook and Myspace united fans, igniting the celebration into a galactic phenomenon.
The First Official Celebration
In 2011, Toronto Underground Cinema hosted the first major Star Wars Day event, sparking a tradition celebrated worldwide today. Social media soon amplified the movement, with #MayThe4thBeWithYou cementing its place as an annual celebration by 2013.
Shortly after acquiring Lucasfilm in 2012, Walt Disney Productions quickly recognised the promotional potential of this fan-fuelled holiday. Before long, Disney too was officially embracing May 4th as Star Wars Day.
The Empire Joins In
What started as a fan-driven event had now been fanatically supported by the franchise’s new corporate overlords. Disneyland and Walt Disney World launched events, exclusive merchandise dropped, and official Star Wars channels celebrated Star Wars Day online.
Now, it is important to note that Star Wars Day is not an official holiday in any country. The mail will still be delivered, banks will remain open, and life will go on as usual. Despite this, it has been officially honoured by a number of institutions. In 2019, the California State Legislature formally declared May 4th “Star Wars Day” in the state. The Mayor of Los Angeles declared Star Wars Day a citywide event, urging fans to “join with the Force” and celebrate.
Revenge of the 5th… or 6th? When the Sith take the spotlight
In true Star Wars fashion, if the light side exists, so too must the darkside. While May 4th is a day to honour the heroes, and the Jedi that triumph over the darkside, several fans have observed the day that follows (or sometimes the day after that) as an unofficial holiday based on some of the galaxy’s most compelling characters. “Revenge of the 5th” and also sometimes referred to as “Revenge of the 6th” allow fans to reclaim their inner galactic villain.
A clever word play
The name plays on Episode III: Revenge of the Sith exploring Anakin’s tragic fall to the dark side as Vader. Though not as iconic as May 4th, “Revenge of the 5th” remains beloved by fans who celebrate Sith and villains.
The Dark Side Debate
Whether the dark side day should be on the 5th or moved to the 6th is an annual argument among fans. For those who favour Revenge of the 5th, it’s the ticket to two full days following May the Fourth, as the dark side of the Force has always been connected to ruin, excess and duality. Advocates of Revenge of the 6th counter that the extra day allows more temporal space after the earlier event, and that the ‘Sith’ in ‘Sixth’ sounds better than Five, making the play on words that much punchier.
No matter your persuasion, the dark side day or days provide a different flavour of fandom. While May 4th draws Jedi in blue and green, Revenge-ers arrive cloaked in black, wielding red lightsabers and Imperial grey.
How to celebrate Star Wars Day: Ideas for fans of every generation
There are several ways to celebrate Star Wars Day.
Movie Marathon Time
Binging on films is a central part of many people’s Star Wars Day. While it seems simple—grab the DVDs and watch—the experience is richer with lively debates among family and friends.
Should you watch in release order, starting with the original trilogy, or chronologically, beginning with The Phantom Menace? Maybe you prefer the rising Machete Order—IV, V, II, III, VI—where Episode I gets cut from the saga? However you choose, hours of lightsaber duels and epic dogfights remain a legendary way to celebrate Star Wars Day.
May the Look Be With You
Donning costumes also counts as a Star Wars Day celebration. While the Star Wars Day attire bar long ago passed screen accurate Stormtrooper armour and custom-sewn Jedi robes, a shirt emblazoned with Star Wars imagery or a pair of R2-D2 socks gives everyone a way to participate. Businesses and schools now encourage Star Wars attire on May 4th, creating communal moments among fans across galaxies.
Star Wars in the Kitchen
Culinary endeavours are another great place to express one’s Star Wars love. From Wookiee Cookies to Bantha milk blue milkshakes, fans have cooked up an unending list of delectable dishes and beverages. Each year, social media buzzes with treats like Han Solo chocolate bars, Death Star watermelons, Leia buns, and lightsaber pretzels.
Kid-Friendly Star Wars Day
For parents with kids, Star Wars Day actually represents a unique learning experience masquerading as a good time. There are basic science experiments to be done — everything from creating your own, pint-sized “hover” crafts to constructing your very own “lightsabres” (i.e., colouring flashlights and the wonder of diffraction grating paper). And from craft projects, such as paper-mâche droids and cardboard lightsabres (ah, the magic of reusing empty toilet paper rolls and becoming a smaller part of the mythos), the field is as broad and as wide for the imagination.
Heroes in Costume
Meanwhile, the act of generating do-goodery around the day has become more popular on Star Wars Day, thanks in no small part to the efforts of fan groups around the world, such as the 501st Legion. In their intricate costumes, these devoted fans regularly visit sick children in the hospital, sell raffle tickets on the street to raise funds for any number of good causes, and the list goes on. Other fans channel their inner Rebels by donating to charities that fight tyranny and oppression in all of its forms, and some prefer to give to causes that the late Carrie Fisher was particularly passionate about, such as mental health awareness.
No matter how you choose to observe it, May the 4th stands as a reminder of the power of a shared story, even if we’re spread light years apart. Because whether you’re a Star Wars socks-wearing rebel all by your lonesome in a cubicle, or part of a massive cosplaying ensemble participating in the largest reenactment of the Mos Eisley cantina this side of the scruffy looking nerf article, you’re actually helping to keep a global tradition alive.
Real-World filming locations You can actually visit: Travel to a galaxy not-so-far away
The Star Wars galaxy may not be real, but every time one of us says “May the Force Be With You,” it exists. And the places we’ve seen and heard about from these films? They’re all right here on Earth. Here are a few you can visit:
Norway
The Lofoten Islands, an archipelago in Norway, filled in for the planet Kijimi in “The Rise of Skywalker.” The steep mountains, protected fjords, and tiny fishing villages on the islands themselves were ideal locations for the remote, snowy secret base of the spice runners. And tourism to the Lofoten Islands absolutely blossomed since playing a role in a galaxy far, far away. But, the islands are worth visiting on their own for purely Earthly reasons. You can experience the midnight sun in summer or the magic of chasing the Northern Lights in the winter by simply taking a group trip through Norway’s Lofoten Islands.
If you want a bit more, you can take a small group adventure to Norway generally. Hoth’s icy desolation from “The Empire Strikes Back” was filmed on Norway’s Hardangerjøkulen glacier, echoing other landscapes like Svartisen. Walking Svartisen’s ancient ice fields, visitors relive the desolate splendour of the Rebel Alliance’s hidden stronghold on Hoth. Tours lead visitors on guided hikes, providing a safe and educational glimpse at the frozen wonderland.
Dubai
The deserts of the United Arab Emirates have featured in several Star Wars films, most recently in “The Force Awakens.” Windswept sand dunes and dramatic backdrops are the perfect stand-in for desert planets like Jakku, the setting of Rey’s beginnings. Star Wars fans roaming the desertscapes discover not only cinematic echoes but also Bedouin traditions and thrilling dune-bashing adventures. Cap it off with a desert sunset — among the best on the planet. With just a bit of planning, you can discover Dubai and the Emirates on a group tour and channel your inner Jedi.
Bolivia and Chile
Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni inspired Crait, the mineral planet from “The Last Jedi,” with red earth beneath white salt. While the site was not directly used in the films, the inspiration is unmistakable. As the world’s largest salt flat, Uyuni’s vast expanse creates mirages where sky and earth blur into a single dreamscape. After rain, the flats become a shimmering sheet of natural glass called the “world’s largest mirror.” All these and more offer a compelling reason to travel through Bolivia and Chile with a group of adventurers.
Peru
Machu Picchu never appeared in Star Wars, but its ancient stones and emerald peaks recall Yavin 4’s Rebel base spirit. Indeed, the mysterious, millennia-old Incan citadel is surrounded by mist-shrouded mountaintops reminiscent of earthy Yavin 4. Tours of Machu Picchu begin in Cusco, journey through Aguas Calientes, and include a three-hour hike along the Inca Trail. The best way to embrace its splendour is on an epic group tour through Peru and Bolivia, unlocking ancient wonders.
Jordan
Few landscapes in the Star Wars galaxy are as iconic as Wadi Rum, backdrop for Jedha in “Rogue One” and beyond. Wadi Rum, known as the “Valley of the Moon,” is a harsh desert wilderness of red sands and towering sandstone mountains. Visitors can follow Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor’s footsteps through canyons, ancient petroglyphs, and cliffs carved over millennia. What are you waiting for? Discover Jordan on an immersive group adventure.
Iceland
Iceland’s otherworldly landscapes have long drawn filmmakers seeking alien worlds—and Star Wars is no exception to their allure. Iceland’s black sand beaches and volcanic rocks became Eadu in “Rogue One” and inspired parts of Crait in “The Last Jedi.” Iceland is just the beginning—this land of fire and ice offers experiences unlike anywhere else on Earth. Soak in geothermal springs, walk between tectonic plates, marvel at massive waterfalls, and explore glowing, otherworldly ice caves.
True fans may recognise Iceland’s Krafla volcano, believed to have inspired Mustafar, site of the Obi-Wan/Anakin lightsaber showdown in “Revenge of the Sith.” Though CGI and sets shaped the film, Krafla’s bubbling mud pots, lava fields, and steam still channel Star Wars’ raw power. A trek through this primordial landscape helps visitors connect more tangibly with the nature Star Wars capitalised on in its storytelling.
May the 4th be with you… and maybe your next trip, too
If there’s one thing we can take away from our cinematic quest around the globe this Star Wars Day, it’s the question of why we continue to be fascinated with May the 4th. More than a pun, more than a pop-culture celebration, the underlying reason has to be something far more elemental: humanity’s eternal search for meaning, as expressed in the art of storytelling. Whether it’s the heroic journey of a would-be prince to self-actualisation or an anarchic galaxy filled with force-sensitive warriors and dark lords with wonderfully tragic backstories, storytelling reminds us of what it means to be human.
Real-life locations
The real-life locations that took the shape of distant planets in Star Wars, are more than just a place for a picture or two. They are for fans to physically live in a story that has for decades evolved into a universal language. Standing with your feet in the sand dunes that could have represented a far off location in another galaxy or spotting the snowcapped mountains of a small out of nowhere world you know by heart as Hoth, gives fans a chance to be in a story that has made audiences believe in mythmaking all their lives.
Adventure Awaits
This May the 4th, let your way of participating in a decades-old franchise, not just be about rewatching your favourite films or buying out the entire store full of branded merchandise. Instead, just go out and have an adventure, one that a hero or villain might embark upon, one that makes you go beyond to a space where you always dreamt you could find yourself.
The galaxy might be far, far away, but the spark that made it all is right here, waiting for those who are daring enough to find it. May the Force be with you this Star Wars Day—and on all the quests yet to come.
